Kellogg Evening and Weekend Program ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report
When the Kellogg Evening and Weekend Program was named the nation’s best for the second year in a row, Aaron Kasper ’26 Evening and Weekend MBA already knew why.
“In evaluating several top programs, the school's culture, flexibility and post-MBA opportunities through the global network and vast industry presence led me to select the school among other programs I was evaluating,” he recalls. “The flexibility of the part-time program is second to none. With the ability to maximize or minimize credits any given quarter, take both in-person and remote classes and flex across different program offerings, I always felt comfortable being able to balance all priorities in my personal and professional life.”
The most recent U.S. News and World Report part-time MBA rankings were released April 7. Kellogg was listed No. 1 for its ability to provide students with the skills they need to develop as leaders without putting their careers on hold.
“We’re incredibly proud that our part-time program continues to be recognized as the best in business education,” says Greg Hanifee, associate dean of degree operations. “This ranking reflects our unwavering commitment to a high-caliber, flexible academic experience that empowers our students to excel professionally and personally, and the tremendous work our faculty and staff deliver. Kellogg students enjoy a dynamic curriculum with a deeply collaborative community, preparing leaders for whatever future the evolving global landscape brings.”
Maximum flexibility
Though part-time students at Kellogg pursue their MBAs on varied timelines, what unites them is a shared drive to grow as leaders, make an impact in their respective organizations and strengthen the Kellogg community. Nine out of 10 recent graduates said Kellogg helped them develop stronger leadership skills, demonstrating proof of the program’s immediate and lasting impact.
“What makes Kellogg special is that learning goes beyond functional expertise to develop self-awareness, judgment and the ability to lead with both clarity and empathy,” says Sabah Chowdhury ’26 Evening and Weekend MBA. “The academics are excellent, and I have learned a great deal across the curriculum, but what has stayed with me most is the way Kellogg encourages reflection on who you are, how you carry yourself and the long-term vision you want to pursue.”
The program’s flexibility includes intensive five-week and traditional 10-week course options in downtown Chicago, on Northwestern’s lakefront campus in Evanston and in virtual classrooms. Evening and Weekend students can explore the school’s full-time degree courses as well as immersive experiences, known as Deep Dives, held in cities throughout the world. In addition, two-weeklong Sunday courses like Financial Modeling for Private Equity in Miami and Leading and Managing Teams in Chicago are available.
Leaders of the future
As artificial intelligence fundamentally transforms how businesses operate, compete and grow, tomorrow’s leaders will need the ability to ask the right questions, spot the best opportunities and guide their teams through both innovation and ethical application using these new tools. At Kellogg, a set of recently launched courses focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning offer students a truly cross-disciplinary learning opportunity.
The centerpiece of this new curriculum is a five-week, high-impact course called AI Foundations for Managers. This course equips students with the tools to understand and evaluate AI technologies in real business contexts.
“Being part of the Evening and Weekend Program has allowed me to think more strategically, act with more empathy and be more confident in understanding the implications behind decisions at my own organization as well as my clients',” says Kasper. “The experience has accelerated my development at my organization while connecting me with successful professionals in other organizations that give me a different perspective on organizational challenges that directly affect my work. I’ve been put in rooms to learn from others that I would not have otherwise been able to access.”
“The Evening and Weekend Program gets its power from the immediacy of taking classroom frameworks and rich discussions and trying them out at work 12 hours later,” says Clinical Professor of Marketing Craig Wortmann ’95 MBA.
Quant and collaboration
Evening and weekend courses are designed to equip students with fundamental business knowledge, analytical skills and the social acumen to succeed in today’s business landscape. All students, regardless of pace, take Leadership and Organizations and Business Strategy, which serve as cornerstones of the Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program.
“The dual-pronged structure of classes provides students with both theoretical and practical knowledge of leading organizations,” says Lauren Rivera, Peter G. Peterson Professor of Corporate Ethics and Professor of Management & Organizations. “Management and organizations classes teach cutting edge empirically backed strategies for leading others, while leadership development classes provide hands on opportunities for practice and feedback.”
Whether aiming for a promotion, pivoting industries or launching something new, Kellogg Evening and Weekend students see measurable results — often even before they graduate.
“Kellogg has taught me how to manage time effectively and most importantly made me understand the value of the Kellogg network,” says Hirak Buch ’26 Evening and Weekend MBA. “The rigorous yet academically challenging program provides a belief and confidence that if you work hard and smart, success will follow.”
As students map their next move or negotiate their next role, the Kellogg Career Management Center is with them every step of the way. Students have access to dedicated Evening & Weekend MBA career coaches, tailored job search tools, leadership development programming and a powerful alumni network.
“I keep in touch with many students post-Kellogg,” says Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing Gina Fong. “Just because they’ve graduated doesn’t mean the learning, or our relationship, is done. Some ask for mentoring while others have specific questions about their own work situations. It’s fulfilling to watch them grow and apply their Kellogg MBA years after they receive their diploma.”
Both Fong and Wortmann credit the students themselves with making the experience so rich.
“The students are extremely committed, and I’m continually amazed by how much they manage in their lives — full-time jobs, career development, families, friends, relationships, health and wellness, hobbies etc. — and still fully show up for class with intent,” says Fong.
“It's always fun to share with my students that the Evening and Weekend Program at Kellogg changed my life as well,” says Wortmann, who graduated in 1995. “Kellogg put me on a trajectory to become an entrepreneur and I've never looked back.”
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